Africa

Hundreds of migrants along North African migrant routes are being bought and sold openly in modern day ‘slave markets’ in Libya, survivors have told the United Nations migration agency, which warned that these reports “can be added to a long list of outrages” in the country.

Ms Nyanzi has been taken to court over calling President Yoweri Museveni "a pair of buttocks".

April 10, 2017 (YAMBIO) – The governor of South Sudan's Gbudue state, Daniel Badagbu laid, over the weekend, the foundation for a Very Important Persons (VIP) ward at Saint Teresa hospital in Nzara county.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

The four-room block is being funded by the Equatoria Teak company.

At the launch, Badagbu said the people of Nzara should be proud because they are utilizing local resources like Teak trees, exported though Equatoria Teak company.

According to the governor such a construction is a form of accountability because a lot of money comes to the country, yet facilities like hospitals are never seen.

Badagbu said that the new ward would help the people of Gbudue and of South Sudan at large, adding that an anti-HIV/AIDs campaign will be launched.

"Nzara hospital is one of the best hospitals in the state and this would help the hundreds of people to get their ARVs [Antiretroviral]," he said.

Severina Bati, a woman who publicly declared her HIV status, appreciated the county authorities for the efforts they have made, especially for those living with HIV/Aids.

“I am so happy to see the foundation of another Ward today being laid to help patients in Nzara Hospital, more especially people like us who are living with HIV virus. May God bless those working for Equatoria Teak for having funded this construction,” explained Bati.

The Catholic Bishop of Tombura Yambio Diocese, Barani Edwardo Hiboro, said the dream of establishing a good hospital in Nzara could not be achieved alone. The Bishop gave thanks to the county authority for supporting the hospital and the addition of the new wards.

“This dream is big and we cannot achieve it alone, the commissioner has shown that together we are able to do big thing. In the midst of all the crying in South Sudan, we are talking of building a hospital. This is a great achievement,” Bishop Hiboro said.

The Bishop urged the people of Gbudue state to plant Teak trees, saying it is highly valued in the world market and since Gbudue state is blessed with it, they can export.

Meanwhile, the commissioner of Nzara County, Elia Richard Box said that his plan was to improve the hospital but the lack of funding by the government to deliver services to the community. Box asserted that the new ward will also serve patients from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central Africa Republic (CAR).

Sister Lauro Zeminan, the administrator at the hospital, said when Saint Teresa hospital started, they treated patients with Tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy under trees, adding that expansion of the hospital would enable them serve more patients.

She urged well-wishers to support the hospital as numbers of patients continue to grow while collective effort is needed to properly run the hospital.

(ST)

April 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N) Monday has rejected a call by the African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki for a meeting between the opposition Sudan Call forces and the National Dialogue High Implementation Committee (HIC).

The head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Mechanism (AUHIP) concluded Sunday a three-day visit to Sudan where he proposed that the government-led HIC and the holdout Sudan Call forces meet in Addis Ababa to discuss the Roadmap Agreement implementation.

"The Panel has proposed that HIC and the opposition should meet to discuss the implementation of the dialogue outcomes, including the composition of the committee,". further said the AUHIP in a statement released Monday.

In a statement released several hours, the spokesperson of the SPLM-N negotiation team Mubarak Ardol said they are ready to reach a humanitarian agreement that includes a cessation of hostilities. He, however, warned that they would not concede on their demand for a safe humanitarian corridor through Asosa, in Ethiopia, to deliver 20% of the humanitarian assistance.

"The outcome of the (government led) dialogue are rejected because have nothing to do with the Roadmap (Agreement). The SPLM will not accept any political process based on the outcome of the (internal) dialogue. We will not participate in any meeting with the so-called dialogue implementation committee," said Ardol.

"We were not a party to the dialogue and it makes sense that should have no connection to the implementation of its results," he further stressed.

Following a meeting with Mbeki in Khartoum, the leader of the National Umma Party Sadiq al-Mahdi announced that Mbeki would organise a meeting for the Sudan Call forces to discuss the discuss the proposal and determine a joint position over the meeting with dialogue implementation body.

Al-Mahdi further stressed that the implementation of the Roadmap Agreement would pave the way towards the cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access followed by the political process after the implementation of the confidence-building measures.

Ardol said the recent rift within the SPLM-N has no effect on its position towards the peace process. He also asserted that they would not be part of a political process before an agreement on the humanitarian issue.

"We stick to the confidence building measures in order to create a conducive environment, stop the war and to hold an equal dialogue. Otherwise, in its absence, (we propose) to negotiate new transitional arrangements and address the specificities of the armed conflict areas particularly the Two Areas and Darfur".

Following the end of the National Dialogue Conference, the Sudanese government officials said the holdout opposition groups can snow join the implementation process of the outcome of the conference, pointing that its recommendations come in the sense of the opposition demands.

In its statement, the AUHIP said the government stressed the need to stick to the Roadmap Agreement adding that President al-Bashir "reassured the Panel of his commitment to enhancing the inclusivity of the process of implementing the outcomes of the National Dialogue, particularly the adoption of a new Constitution for Sudan".

Also, the statement said he "reassured the Panel of his commitment to enhancing the inclusivity of the process of implementing the outcomes of the National Dialogue, particularly the adoption of a new Constitution for Sudan".

Opposition officials in Khartoum said they were surprised that Mbeki's statement reflects only the position of the government and disregard their call for a dialogue process different from what was held last October.

(ST)

April 10, 2017 (JUBA) – Chiefs from South Sudan's Gorgrial state have disowned a letter allegedly written by 40 chiefs from Aguok, seeking President Salva Kiir's attention to fight what was reportedly influenced by his brother in law, Gregory Vasili.

President Salva Kiir addresses delegates during the swearing-in ceremony of FVP Taban Deng Gai at the Presidential Palace in Juba, July 26, 2016. (Reuters/Jok Solomun)

In series of interview with Sudan Tribune Monday, multiple chiefs and local officials protested claims of the fight between Aguok and Apuk.

“I would like to say on behalf of the chiefs whose names appeared on that letter, neither I nor those whose names have appeared in the letter knew anything about it. It is even surprising that a name of a chief who has died was included. I wonder how he participated, he resurrected from the grave. My name also appeared while I had not knowledge,” Chief Riing Ayok told the Sudan Tribune.

Chief Ayok threatened a legal suite against those who had forged the letter, saying that the document not only meant to cause disharmony between the two communities, but it also intended to tarnish their political images in the communities, along with undermining their working relations with the state government.

“We will not let it go like that because this is beyond politics. It has now reached a point in which we cannot stand aloof with our arms akimbo. We will try to find the masterminds of the letter so that we know their motives and reasons for using our names without our knowledge,” said the chief.

Ariech Mayar Ariech, Information Minister of Gorgrial State denied the involvement of the government in the sectional fight, describing the letter as fake and a work of political rivals in the area.

“First of all that letter is fake. It was forged and the proof of the lack of authenticity of the letter is that the chiefs whose names appeared in the letter know nothing about it. They protested and are now working towards finding who forged their names,” said Ariech.

The chief went on to emphasise that the letter was untrue and meant for malicious intent, excusing the governor from any involvement with the sectional fights.

“The second thing is that all the allegations in the letter are untrue. They are false creation by people who don't like peace and harmony in our state. The governor did not in any way involve himself in this sectional fight. In fact he has been one of the leaders whose efforts in finding a lasting solution have notably been appreciated by both sides. The third is that he is the governor of the state. He is not a tribal leader. So how can a governor, a leader of all the people take sides in sectional fights?" he asked.

Ariech further added that the allegations that the governor was arming and disarming as well as drawing local borders in favour of one section at the expense of the others were also “false and unfounded lies.”

“One should be ashamed that the propagated these allegations. The governor cannot arm one community and disarm the other. What will be his interest? Why would he do that and he is the governor of all the people of the state. He is the governor of Gogrial state, not Apuk and Aguok communities," further explained Ariech.

He added, "This alone tells you that this was just propaganda which cannot be propagated because it is good at nothing than creating disharmony. It is all about lies, unfounded rumours, gossips and promotion of political gimmicks, nothing is credible in all these allegations at all”.

(ST)

April 10, 2017 (JUBA) - The governor of South Sudan's Wau state, Andrea Mayar Achor has downplayed the intensity of fighting that took place between ethic lines on Monday.

Wau state governor Andrea Mayar Acho (ST Photo)

After a briefing with President Salva Kiir at the State House in Juba, the governor told reporters that fighting with rebels started over the weekend.

“The fighting happening in Wau is a result of unknown gunmen who ambushed soldiers from division five and killed six soldiers yesterday [Sunday],” said Achor.

The governor said local leaders were “working very hard to maintain the situation.”

Wau residents said the soldiers, whom are mainly members of the Dinka tribe, were carrying out a house-to-house search, killing Lou and Fertit tribesmen. Residents say at least ten people were killed by Monday morning.

“The town is on a general lock down. There is no movement from one point to another,” said a resident who identified himself as Dominic.

The fighting spread to Wau and other parts of South Sudan following the collapse of the peace agreement in July.

Residents say the latest clashes in Wau started on Saturday and were being fought by South Sudan army (SPLA) soldiers on one side and rebels on the other.

Some sources have warned that the fighting in Wau would escalate into a mass killing, urged authorities and the international communities to intervene.

(ST)

Warning of increasing risk of mass deaths from starvation in many countries in Africa and in Yemen due to worsening drought and conflict, the United Nations refugee agency has called for international support to prevent the repeat of the 2011 tragedy in the Horn of Africa that claimed more than 260,000 lives.

April 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A new crisis is looming between the ruling National Congress Party (NUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani regarding the representation of the latter in the upcoming government of national concord.

DUP's leader Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani walks among supporters (FILE)

Al-Mirghani, who left Sudan in 2013 to London for medical treatment, arrived in Cairo last August following controversial reports over his health conditions and that his doctors advised him to give up public work.

Differences have recently surfaced between al-Mirghani and his son Mohamed al-Hassan who serves as head of the DUP organisational sector after the former threw his weight behind a rival group of his son and authorised them to name the party representatives for the upcoming government.

An informed source told Sudan Tribune Monday that the party MPs in the national upper and lower houses beside the legislative council in Khartoum state have boycotted the sessions on Monday and held an emergency meeting with al-Hassan.

According to the source, the meeting discussed intentions of the ruling party to adopt the list of names provided by the rival group, pointing the meeting stressed the move would constitute a blatant interference in the party affairs.

The MPs threatened to withdraw from the national dialogue process had the ruling party accepted to deal with the other group.

The same source pointed that the MPs handed over their resignations from the legislative posts to al-Hassan to take the necessary decision.

According to the source, the MPs underscored that al-Hassan represents the only legitimate channel to deal with the ruling party, pointing he is the one who signed the National Document on behalf of the DUP.

It is noteworthy that the DUP was among the political parties that participated in the government-led national dialogue conference and approved the National Document.

The DUP left opposition ranks and joined the “broad-based” government of the NCP in December 2011, citing the “need to save the country,” in the words of al-Mirghani himself.

The decision of one of Sudan's biggest opposition parties to join the government has triggered a party crisis, which has seen many DUP members tendering their resignations and others protesting in their home areas.

The party received three ministries in the federal cabinet and continues to serve under this allocation.

(ST)

April 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government has called on Paris to convince the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) Abdel-Wahid al-Nur to join Darfur's peace process.

A fighter belonging to Sudan's Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid Nur (SLM-AW)

Al-Nur refuses to negotiate with the government since the failure of Abuja peace process in 2006. He says that the Sudanese authorities have to disarm militias, provide security for the displaced persons and civilians in Darfur and re-institute grabbed land.

He further insists that any talks should only deal with the root causes of the conflict, not its consequences.

The national expert in the Darfur peace office at the Sudanese presidency Osman Dirar said Sudan expects Paris to exert pressure on al-Nour to reverse his stance towards the peace process.

He pointed to France's declared position in support of peace process in Darfur, saying al-Nur's stances excite attention as he is constantly refusing to engage in dialogue and peace talks.

“There can be a tactical refusal to make some gains, but this permanent refusal means that he does not want peace or is not qualified to negotiate a settlement.” said Dirar.

The presence of al-Nur in France was a source of troubles in the bilateral relations, but Paris says they hope to convince him to join the African Union-led peace process to end the armed conflicts in Darfur and the Two Areas.

Last February, the Sudanese government expressed discontent over France hosting of armed groups leaders particularly al-Nur, saying the rebel leader works to incite violence and seeks to change the government with non-peaceful ways.

Meanwhile, an informed source told Sudan Tribune that some Sudanese officials raised al-Nour's issue during their meetings with the Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Alexis Lamek last month, saying Paris' hosting of al-Nur violates the French laws as he is involved in acts of violence and assassinations in Darfur.

In an opinion article published by Sudan Tribune in November last year, the former U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Donald Booth said al-Nur's “refusal to negotiate has been a perennial problem for international efforts to end the conflict in Sudan”, pointing that peace in Sudan must not be held hostage to his refusal to engage.

(ST)

April 10, 2017 (JUBA) - Two senior South Sudan army (SPLA) officers were killed in renewed confrontations with the armed opposition forces (SPLA-IO) in the Western Bahr el Ghazal region on Monday, multiple military and local officials told Sudan Tribune Monday.

SPLA forces patrol the street of Wau town on May 16, 2016 (ST)

The head of operations at the SPLA's 5th division headquarters in the area, Brig. Gen. Peter Par and his counterpart for logistics were reportedly killed while returning from an operation.

“It is unfortunate that comrade Abraham Bol Chut Dhuol has been killed along with Brigadier General Peter Par. You know Peter was chief of military operations and Bol was the head of our logistics here. They were killed when the convoy in which we were travelling came under attack,” a military officer said.

Added the officer, “Comrade Bol Chut was shot in the head and he died even after managing to bring him to our hospital in Grinti. We were returning [to the headquarters] from an operation outside town”.

However, it remains unclear as to how many soldiers could have died with the officers, as no official statement was released by either side.

The officers' death sparked tensions in Wau town on Monday, forcing authorities to limit movements after sustained shootings.

16 KILLED, 10 INJURED

At least 16 dead bodies, the United Nations mission said, were discovered its peacekeeper, with 10 others were reportedly injured.

Fighting reportedly spread to Wau town after “a number of government SPLA soldiers were killed in an ambush on Sunday to the south of the town of Wau."

"The mission mounted two patrols into Wau on Monday and said it had observed the bodies of 16 civilians in a hospital. There were ten people who had been injured," the U.N said in a statement Monday.

84 people, it added, arrived at its protection of civilians' site, with an influx of about 3,000 people, mostly women and children at a Catholic church in Wau town.

The fighting, the U.N further stated, followed the movement of SPLA troops, tanks and equipment towards the south-western part of Wau late last week.

(ST)

April 9, 2017 (EL-GENEINA) - Three people were killed in a camp for internally displaced persons outside El-Geneina, West Darfur, when the police opened fire to disperse a protest by IDPs against a decision to relocate a local market to another area.

A women flees a fire that broke out in a shop at Rako Rako market in Krinding camp outside El-Geneina on 9 April 2017 (ST Photo)

An eyewitness told Sudan Tribune that the incident took place Sunday at the Krinding camp, on the outskirts of Geneina town, when a joint force from the police and security services started to remove the Rako Rako market in the implementation of a decision issued by El-Geneina commissioner.

"During the removal process, a fire broke out in a shop made of local materials, and the IDPs demonstrated against the law enforcement agents who rushed to shoot on the protesters killing a woman and injured other dozens. Later, the hospital received the bodies of two people who died of gunshot wounds," he said.

The residents of the Krinding camp, which is divided into two sections are mainly, Massailit people from South and East of West Darfur but there are also some Gimiir, Bargo, Tama and Zaghawa.

There is no official statistics about the number of residents in the camp, but the WFP in its figures of 2015 says it assists some 5,428 households in Krinding 1 and 2,416 households in Krinding 2.

A West Darfur official who preferred anonymity confirmed to Sudan Tribune the incident.

He said El- Geneina commissioner since last month has issued a decision to relocate the market to a new market at two kilometres but the displaced refused the decision.

The local official further said the decision has been taken because the current market has become a hideout for drug trafficking, adding that the police opened fire because some protesters were carrying grenades in their hands.

(ST)

April 9, 2018 (JUBA) – The Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has rebuked the manner in which South Sudan's affairs have been handled by its leadership, stressing that the country seceded from Sudan due to collective support its people received from the region.

President Salva Kiir (L) shakes hands with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (R) after signing a peace agreement on August 26, 2015 (Photo AFP /Charles Lomodong)

“Meles Zinawi (late Ethiopian prime minister) , Isaias Afwerki (Eritrean president and myself, fought and shed blood in Sudan and compelled Bashir on the table to accept self-determination and independence for the people of South Sudan and now there this claim that the Dinkas liberated South Sudan,” Museveni told a meeting of South Sudanese leaders in at State House, Entebbe.

"Were we also Dinkas. What about 98.9 per cent voters in the referendum who endorsed your independence and those Americans and Europeans who supported you? Were they all Dinkas?” he asked.

Museveni, a close political ally of South Sudan President Salva Kiir, made the remarks during his recent meeting with some of South Sudan's former political detainees led by Rebecca Garang, the widow of South Sudan's former leader, John Garang Mabior.

The leaders, who included former Finance minister Kosti Manibe, ex-national Security minister, Oyay Deng Ajak, former deputy defence minister, Majak D'Agot, among other South Sudanese officials, met Museveni to discuss how the devastating conflict in South Sudan can be resolved.

A source who attended last week's meeting said he was “personally touched and moved” by comments by the Ugandan leader.

“I looked at president Museveni and found myself touched by the remarks. We brought to ourselves a shame and this is what we tell our brothers and colleagues in SPLM, particularly president Salva that the interest of the nation, the plight of our people should override personal pride, privileges, enmity and accept to work together for peace so that we remove the country from this situation,” the source, who preferred anonymity, told Sudan Tribune Sunday.

“They don't get it but the country is tearing apart and the region and the world is getting angrier and moving away from us every single day”, further added the source.

The official said the Ugandan leader was refuting a claim by a section of citizens in South Sudan, advocating views of some leaders, including President Kiir who reportedly sees him and his tribe as having played a big role in liberating south Sudan from Sudan.

“All of us, our people have contributed in the liberation of our country in our own different ways. We were contributors at different capacities and this contribution should not be the license to mismanage the affairs of the country,” said Museveni.

He added, “It should have been the source of our courage to perform better and be a guiding principle of whatever we do for our people.”

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence since it seceded from Sudan in July 2011. In February, three United Nations agencies declared a famine outbreak in parts of the young nation, warning that an additional five million people were at the brink of starvation.

(ST)

April 9, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudanese government has reiterated its objection to the participation of peacekeepers from outside the region in the Regional Protection Force (RPF), claiming it goes against the resolution of the United Nations Security Council.

Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs Tut Kew Gatluak told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that troops participating in the additional force should be only decided last August.

“The resolution of the Security Council is clear. It calls for deployment of regional protection force. This simply means the force to be deployed should come from countries in the region," said Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs Tut Kew Gatluak.

"If you bring troops from countries outside the region, then it means something else, and the language has to be revised and this will be another process,” he further.

The presidential aide in his statements to Sudan Tribune echoed the views of the Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth who told reporters on Friday after the weekly cabinet meeting that Nepal and Bangladesh are not countries within the region to participate in the deployment of the regional protection force.

“The Council discussed the issue of armament and the deployment of the forces, and not that only but there is one outstanding issue which has just emerged. The forces referred to as the regional protection force, but if you see the list of the countries that are bringing in the forces these forces who are coming in are Nepalese and Bangladesh. These forces are not part of the region, this is one, said Lueth.

"We asked them as to why are you bringing these people. They said we are bringing these people because they are technocrats; they are engineers and medical doctors. And we said this force here in the region, is it true that they have no engineering section and there is no medical corps.''

"So we want to know. If they bring in forces from outside the region, then they are definitely in violation of the agreement, and if they want to bring the forces from outside the region, then they must change the name of the force,” he stressed.

The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the deployment of the 4000 additional force this month and to take a decision over its arrival to South Sudan.

During a visit to Juba last March, the former head of the UN peacekeeping department Hervé Ladsous explained the reasons behind the delay in the deployment of the RPF and announced it would be deployed within weeks.

(ST)

April 9, 2017 (NYALA) - Unidentified gunmen Sunday have attacked a team of engineers heading to South Darfur state, killing one person and wounding another.

The team of engineers, which belongs to Plus telecommunication maintenance company, was on its way from Sharia locality in East Darfur state to Natiga locality in South Darfur state.

A reliable source told Sudan Tribune that unknown gunmen have ambushed the team while it was heading to Natiga locality, saying the team's driver has been killed on the spot while one of the engineers was injured.

According to the source, the perpetrators stole the whole belongings of the team including their money and mobile phones and fled the incident's scene.

He added the security community at Natiga sent a military force to the incident scene to evacuate the injured engineer and pursue the culprits.

It is noteworthy that 5 engineers from the Sudatel Telecom Group were killed and their car was stolen in the same area in 2009.

(ST)

April 9, 2017 (JUBA) - 40 traditional chiefs from the Aguok community of Gogrial state have accused President Salva Kiir's brother in-law, Gregory Deng Kuac, the governor of South Sudan's Gogrial state of “inciting inter-communal fight and internal border demarcations”.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

In a letter addressed to President Kiir, the chief requested the South Sudanese leader to quickly act to prevent further inter-communal fight between Apuk and Aguok.

The chiefs claimed they had evidence indicating the governor had an invisible hand in supporting most inter-communal ringleaders.

For instance, the complainants said the governor allegedly released 200 AK-47s guns, including one PKM machine gun to the Apuk community, claims Sudan Tribune could not independently verify.

“Our surprise he [Governor Gregory Deng Kuac] has released the gun that was used by Thiang Malok Thiep which killed three people at Panacier market on 9/8/2016 to his bodyguard captain Lino Jiel Akol as owner of gun that proved to us Hon. Gregory Deng Kuac has upper hand in the current conflict between two communities,” the letter, addressed to President Kiir, partly reads.

They letter also claimed that governor had suspended disarmament in the area without clear reason as to why the process was halted, yet disarmament was aimed at reducing risks of firearms in the hands of unauthorized people within the Apuk and Aguok communities.

“Your excellency, when conflict arises, the former governor ordered disarmament process to collect guns in the hands of local population with aim to save the lives of innocent civilians in Gogrial state, but when Hon. Gregory Deng Kuac was appointed and took over his office, he stopped disarmament process and he released 100 guns to the civilians of Apuk community,” further read the letter.

The chiefs, in their letter, stated that governor Kuac has allegedly involved himself in internal border demarcation which the leaders say to be trig of renewing fight between Apuk and Aguok.

At the center of this, the chief said, is the Abuokdiit area, which is contested by both the Apuk West and the Aguok communities.

“[The] governor ordered the establishment of Abuokdiit as payam of Apuk West county which is belong to Aguok North county and we have feared that it will renew the conflict if governor is allow to continue with such behaviors. To prove his orders, he was received at Achool Pagong village by people of Apuk West county as they claimed that land of Achool Pagong belong to them with intention to demarcate the borders of Apuk with Aguok,” the letter stated.

The Gogrial state governor could not easily be reached on the matter.

(ST)

April 9, 2017 (YIROL) - 12 people died in a suspected rebel attack at a cattle camp in South Sudan's Eastern Lakes state, authorities said.

Western Lakes state governor Matur Chout Dhuol (ST/File)

An eyewitness told Sudan Tribune Sunday's attack could not be blamed on the youth, but armed opposition forces looking for cattle.

The attackers, the eyewitness added, came from the direction of Western Equotoria state, fully prepared to launch a military attack.

“They have killed 12 pastoralists' youth from Panhomtor today [Sunday]. Those attackers are SPLA-IO [Sudan People's Liberation Army-In Opposition] who came in search of food from Western Equatoria,” the eyewitness further told Sudan Tribune on phone.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Eastern Lakes state, Bor Philip Wutchok said his administration was tracing those who attacked their area.

“Till now, we are not sure whether it was the SPLA-IO or pastoralists who are responsible for attacking the cattle camp,” he remarked.

This was the first time unknown people have attacked Eastern Lakes state.

Unconfirmed reports say youth from Western Lakes state are deserting the area after President Salva Kiir re-appointed Matur Chut Dhuol as governor in February.

(ST)

The Happy Feet youth project in South Africa aims to "promote education" through gumboot dancing.

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

April 9, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - A military spokesperson for the opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples Liberation movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of former vice President, Riek Machar, on Sunday declared switching allegiance to General Taban Deng Gai, first vice President of South Sudan.

Colonel Dickson Gatluak Nyuot, Deputy military spokesperson of the Machar-led opposition faction told Sudan Tribune that he has decided to join Gai's faction because Machar has a lack of clear vision and objectives as well as a lack of clear chain of command in the Army.

David Dang, head of Gai- led SPLM-IO coordination office here in Addis Ababa Sunday has confirmed Nyout's defection and congratulated him for joining the vice president's faction.

The deserter further accused Machar of promotion based on ethnic and clan line instead of merit.

He went on to say that Machar has turned the SPLM-IO into a property of his own his wife, Angelina Nyajany Teny as head of the national committee for security and defence, General Yiey Dak in charge of internal intelligent Bureau and General Dhiling Keah (Machar's Cousin) as military intelligence chief.

"This is the change Machar and his family are talking about," Nyuot said.

"This is another dynasty characterised by corruption, deception, random promotion to created false hope and optimism, nepotism, tribalism, weak military and political leadership and clear vision".

He added that he decided to switch his support to First vice President faction because Gai is a leader who "invests on building bridges and not walls, books not weapons, stability not fear and terror, peace and not chaos"

He called on Machar fighters on the ground to abandon the movement and join Gai's faction to support his efforts to bring permanent peace and stability in South Sudan.

Nyout has left on Sunday to Juba to join the vice-president's faction after over two years in exile.

In August 2015, the opposition leader, Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir signed peace agreement brokered by the regional bloc IGAD.

The peace deal was commended by regional and international peace partners despite uncertainties on firm implementation.

The Addis Ababa-based SPLM-IO office under Gai leadership says it is tasked to mobilise all exiled South Sudanese for peace and reconciliation.

Office head, David Dang said the office is closely working with the Ethiopian government, AU and IGAD to promote peace in South Sudan.

(ST)

April 9, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - The newly appointed military attaché at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum John Bong Sunday has met with the governor of North Darfur state Abdel-Wahid Youssef and senior military commanders in El-Fasher.

In a statement after the meeting, Youssef said he briefed the U.S. official on the conditions of the IDPs and his government's vision to resolve their issues, pointing they were given the option to integrate into their new communities or return to their areas of origin.

The governor also mentioned his government efforts to restore the social fabric and achieve tribal reconciliation. He further explained to the arms collection plan developed by the state.

North Darfur last year, received over 90,000 IDPs who fled their villages in Jebel Marra where the Sudanese army launched a military campaign on rebel position in the area.

Also, the state was the theatre of different tribal clashes over grazing land and gold mines. The massive presence of weapons in the region is identified as the major cause of instability in Darfur.

Bong told reporters following the meeting that the governor has informed him of the stable security conditions in his state and described it as “excellent”.

He praised the good coordination among the various regular forces in North Darfur and the federal organs, announcing he will also visit Central Darfur state.

Darfur region has recently witnessed a number of visits by Western diplomats including from the European Union, France and the United Kingdom.

On Tuesday, the newly appointed head of Darfur hybrid mission (UNAMID) Jeremiah N. Mamabolo told the UN Security Council that security situation in the western Sudan region has changed and the fighting has by far diminished.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

April 9, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Sunday has attended the end of a 12-day joint Sudanese-Saudi military drill at the Meroe air base, 350 kilometres north of the capital, Khartoum.

Dubbed “Blue Shield” the exercise involved some 250 Saudi air force members and over 450 Sudanese militaries.

Sudan took part in the exercise with more than two dozen fighter planes including MiG-29s and Sukhoi jets while Saudi Arabia sent “18” F-15 fighter jets and Eurofighter Typhoons.

In his address before the closing ceremony, al-Bashir said: “the development of air defence capabilities in the Arab countries represents a deterrent to aspirations of the enemies who seek to control Arab resources”.

He stressed the importance of training and its role in enhancing self-confidence and its direct contribution to raising morale, which in his words “is the key to victory in all battles”.

“In addition to being a means to increase combat efficiency and achieve the readiness of the forces, the joint projects and training exercises strengthen the bond of brotherhood and solidarity among the participating countries,” said al-Bashir in the first ever joint Saudi-Sudanese air exercise.

Al-Bashir considered the “Blue Shield” drill an indicator “of the strength of the eternal and evolving relations between Sudan and Saudi Arabia”.

For his part, the Saudi Air Force commander Major General Mohammad Saleh Al Otaibi said the exercise represents “strategic depth to defend the Arab and Muslim peoples”.

For years, Khartoum's regime maintained close relations with Riyadh's arch-rivals in Tehran.

However, in January 2016, Sudan severed ties with Iran after an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran amid a row over the execution of a Shiite Muslim cleric.

Sudanese troops are deployed in Yemen since October 2014 within a Saudi-led Arab coalition against the Shiite Houthi militants.

In February 2016, the Sudanese army participated in a regional military exercise including Saudi and Gulf armies, Egypt, Jordanian, Pakistani, and Sudanese armies.

Last year, there were unconfirmed reports about a five billion dollar military assistance from Saudi Arabia to Sudan.

(ST)